The Arizona sentinel., 1887-10-29
Grand Memorial Feast.
tho Yuma Indians.

disposed tribe; in manner they are yer, gentle and extremely affeetionate toward their kindred. Once a year, on or about thu end of October they hold memorial "iestas' in honor of the departed dead. The annua ceremony commenced on the evening O morning. A wide fiat of the mesquite bot tom on the other side of Fort Yuma wa, cleared for the grand occasion. A large shed was erected and decorated with crimson cloth, bright colored calicoes, beads and hundreds of fe:toons of blue yarn. Under this shed were grouped the mourners, and right heartily did they fill their part of the program, their mournful cries, being plainly heard for forty eight hours. An old squaw carrying clay image of an Indian baby walked around the mourners, touching each one and murmuring words of consolation as she passed. Seated about two hundred yards from the ''crying house" were be. tween fifty or sixty bucks. On the left side of this group were dozen men arrayed in white shirts, breech- clouts, and fantastically shaped red caps, with white plumes; on the right, were seated twelve bucks dressed in a style that is indescribable, unless q mans head stuck through small hole in sheet, will convey the idea. Those in the center wore their every day costume. The right and left squads were armed with knives, bows and arrows, and were painted up re- gardless of expense. After some long talks by the Chief and medicine men, four scouts were seen carefully examining the surrounding country; and in little while, the crying and noise was intensified, and the redcap- ped fellows made break for the house of the mourners;
 | THE SHAM BATTLE.
 then took place one of the most interesting sights of the affair; the redcaps were sup lposed to be Cocopahs and the opposite crowd the Yumas were about to go to war. And right well was the sham fight made. The Cocopahs hurled words of contempt and defiance at the Yumas, until the latter made bold charge utterly routing the Co., copahs. Not great while elapsed before the imitation Cocopahs were reinforced and lively set-to. took place; the air was black with-dus ,rrows flew with daRge- rous whiz on every side. and the war whoops of the excited warriors made the welkin ring. The battle ragged furiOusly but like all things, came to an end and the Yumas were masters of the field. Then took place personal combats between the leaders of each side in which the YumAs were again victorious Four bucks each with grotss- que head-dress made up of bright colored feathers, beads and strips of wildcats skin, were the mounted warriors of the battle; they sat their splendid steeds with a knighly grace and rode superbly, without saddles or stirrups. At the close of the days performance the four riders engaged in terrific bow and arrow duel and the fight was well acted, indeed; the shouts of the excited Indians spectators, the crying of the -nourners and the chanting of the old women in the surrounding jacals were confusing to say the last. The red and blue, white and cardinal costumes trimmed with strings of parti ti-colored beads, in festoons and circles, gave the sqaaws quite holiday appearance. As the glinting rays of the sinking sun shone on the tops of the distant mountains and ,parkled on the waters of the Colorado, deafening cry announced sunset, and in few moments, as if by magic thousand fires were lighted in as many different places. About eleven o'clock they began dancing and keptit up the entire night. The lurid light of the mesquite and iron wood fires gave a weird and unnaeural ap- pearance- to all and to the surroundings. The dancers seemed to be giants of ages gone by and their houses, the dwellings of supernatural beings. As morning ap- preached thelr dancing became faster and faster, the crying louder and the singing more discordant When Auroras Chariot appeared in t East, whoop given with q will by thousand threats gave greeting to the break of day; the crying ceased, and in a moment the house of mourners was vacated, the torch applied and a seething furnace of flame marked the place. Gradually, as the sun rose higher and higher, the Indians dis appeared one by one, and before long the field was vacated; beautiful in its verdure, rich in Ter ility and seemingly invites the husbaudman to till it's soil, instead of allow ing it to be deses,a ated by the heatbenish rites of a race of savages
 Judge R. T. Burr, ex.oficio coroner held inquests on the four convicts killed on T 'ursday morning; the following yer di t was readered in each case: That the deceased came to his death by gunshot wounds inflicted by the employees of the Ter ri orial Prison in the lawful discharge of their duties, while the deceased was endea- voring to escape and resisting said officers with deadly weapons.
 "Wednesday morning about eight o'clock rhen the west bound freight train was within four miles of Adonde, eight ot the